Tua Tagovailoa is again. So are Dolphins proprietor Steve Ross and former Dolphins coach Brian Flores. So, for that matter, are the 1972 Dolphins on their fiftieth anniversary.
It’s a giant night time on a nationwide stage — the second prime-time sport for the Dolphins (3-3) this 12 months. So how do they have a good time with a win? Here are 5 methods for it to occur:
1. Protect Tua Tagovailoa and get offense going. The Dolphins get again their quarterback after just a few dramatic and scary weeks. Now this offense wants to return alive in a way it hasn’t this season apart from one electrical quarter in Baltimore. Beyond that four-touchdown quarter, this offense hasn’t scored greater than 17 factors it did towards the New York Jets by any sensible measure irrespective of the quarterback (the protection had a landing towards New England and recovered a fumble on the 6-yard line towards Buffalo). The first order is defending Tua. That sounds basic contemplating his concussion problems with late.
Pittsburgh will current some issues right here. Remember Tom Brady screaming at his offensive line on the sideline final Sunday? That’s as a result of Pittsburgh’s defensive linemen Craig Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi had their method with the inside of Tampa Bay’s offensive line. Heyward and Ogunjobi mixed for seven pressures, three hurries, three hits and a sack towards Brady. Liam Eichenberg, at proper guard, has struggled giant chunks of this season and Heyward might be a handful. No doubt middle Connor Williams will present assist, however within the bigger scheme Pittsburgh’s 3-4 protection didn’t ship greater than 4 rushers as soon as towards Tampa Bay. Its line has figured how you can play with out T.J. Watt and succeed. This Dolphins line and Tua want a high sport.
2. Clean up the turnovers and penalties. Look, getting Tagovailoa again helps this offense and will get every part again on monitor. But the loss towards Minnesota wasn’t because of the quarterback. Skylar Thompson appeared good earlier than his damage, however on one drive Miami had 5 penalties and two drops. Teddy Bridgewater got here in and struggled early however take a look at his fourth-quarter numbers: accomplished 15-of-17 passes for 237 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and a 133 passer ranking. The drawback was the Dolphins misplaced the turnover battle, 3-0, and had 10 penalties for 97 yards to Minnesota’s two for 20 yards. The earlier week they misplaced the turnover battle, 2-0, and had 11 penalties for 102 yards within the loss towards the Jets. Over this three-game shedding streak they’ve had eight turnovers and never created a single one. Those are big-time shedding numbers. They must be cleaned up irrespective of who performs quarterback.
3. Confuse a rookie quarterback. It shouldn’t matter who the quarterback is as rookie Kenny Pickett and veteran Mitchell Trubisky haven’t performed a lot. Pittsburgh has the thirtieth scoring offense at 16.2 factors a sport and twenty ninth in complete yards at 291.5 a sport. Bottom-line: This is the worst offense the Dolphins have confronted this season. The protection had a robust efficiency towards Minnesota in giving up simply 11 first downs and 234 complete yards. They must be round these numbers towards Pittsburgh. Pickett has solely had three profitable drives in his three video games: 82 yards towards the Jets, 50 yards towards the Bills, and 66 yards towards Tampa Bay (till leaving within the second half with a concussion).
4. Tyreek Hill vs. Pittsburgh secondary. Every group besides Baltimore has one rule taking part in the Dolphins: Don’t let Hill beat you deep. Minkah Fitzpatrick is again together with Flores (don’t begin me on my dumbest-trade-in-Dolphins-history rant) and meaning the Pittsburgh protection is healthier by an All-Pro security. The Steelers secondary has damage issues just like the Dolphins, although, with two different starters unsure. That brings us to Hill. Despite the eye on him, he’s averaging 8.2 catches and 116.8 yards in his first six video games — the form of blistering numbers that put him on tempo to have 1,986 yards receiving this season. The NFL report is 1,964 by Detroit’s Calvin Johnson in 2012.
Yes, Johnson did it in 16 video games and it is a 17-game season, however greatness is greatness. Hill is every part the Dolphins hoped in buying him. He’s been the perfect participant on the sector most video games and opened issues up for Jaylen Waddle, who’s due for a comeback sport after two turnovers final week. Hill would be the prime focus of this protection, however this protection’s secondary is damage. That ought to give a gap to a participant who grabs openings each week.
5. Don’t sleep on Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin’s on tempo for a Hall of Fame profession, and his groups get higher by means of the season. This is a rebuilding 12 months for Pittsburgh, however Tampa was a 10-point highway favourite and misplaced final week. The Steelers protection was giving up 142 yards speeding the primary three weeks — it’s about 50 yards much less the previous few weeks. This begins a five-game run for the Dolphins the place they need to be favored every week. After not taking part in a group with a shedding report over these first six weeks, the Dolphins don’t play a group with a successful report over the subsequent 5 video games. With Tua again, the Dolphins can emerge from this 3-3 begin pointed to the playoffs in the event that they deal with enterprise.
Prediction: Dolphins 20, Pittsburgh 13
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Source: www.bostonherald.com